Reflections on the Proverbs - Day 4

"Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away."

This being the season for the pungent fruit, a story was told about a man who liked durian, but wanted to stop eating it for a while because of recent overdose. Here are his thoughts (thanks to Jonathan for this story):

I will drive by the durian stall, just to smell it, but I won't park my car.

I will park my car, just to admire the durians, but not alight.

I will get off my car, just to take a closer look, but not pick up the fruit.

I will pick up the fruit, just to see if quality has changed, but not buy it.

I will buy it, just for my family, but not eat it myself.

I will eat it, but only with my family.

I will just eat it here, to avoid taking the smell home.

It is not a sign of weakness to run away from temptations. In fact, we are exhorted to flee from youthful lusts, which surely includes bravado in the face real dangers.

"Don't be a wimp" - giving heed to these four words have cost us more than we know. Run, run away from spiritual dangers. Draw near to God in these moments, and He will draw near to us.

Reflections on the Proverbs - Day 3

"Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding...
When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.”
I made a wish in my younger days, that I will always get a good night's sleep. Looking back, I remember how terrible the feeling of insomnia was. For more than a year, I was watching infomercials at 3 am, and wondering how I was to make it though the next working day without dozing off.
Brethren, if you are battling insomnia, believe me when I tell you I know exactly how you feel. Whatever the underlying reason for your sleeplessness, please don't suffer in isolation. For that is what spiritual evil would have us feel - that our personal problems are unique, that no one understands us, that no one can help us. But the Lord Jesus knows, for He was crucified to set us free. This wisdom and understanding from God is found in what Jesus did on the cross, and is now freely available to us through the Holy Spirit. Get wisdom, get rest. Go to Jesus, and He will give you that sweet sleep.

Reflections on the Proverbs - Day 2

"To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things"

What are froward things? Frowardness is turning away from what is the truth to what are distortions of the truth. How often have we taken part in gossip or rumor-mongering? Have we spoken of things that give the impression of something other than the truth?

There are at least two instances of my Lord Jesus wanting people to be honest, to be truthful. John recorded His proclamation of Nathanael, on introduction, as a true son of Israel, in whom there was no guile or deceit. John further recorded in Revelation, that Lord Jesus, in His admonishment of a group of lukewarm believers in Laodicea, wishing them to be either hot or cold. The latter instance, I take it to mean hypocrisy in the church - with people trying to look passionate for Jesus ("hot") while actually denying the power of Christ ("cold") on the inside.

Truthful words are difficult to say and hear. Truthfulness itself is a rare commodity. What ends up coming out of our mouths is very often a perversion of the truth, that is - frowardness. And only if we seek Godly wisdom will we be delivered from this.
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Reflections on the Proverbs - Day 1

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."

I used to think that, as a school teacher, dealing with knowledge was my job. Until I read that part of the first Proverb again today. The word "but" links a two-part sentence. We are exhorted to gather knowledge by fearing God. This is contrasted, by "but", with what foolish people would not do, that is, to get knowledge. What is this knowledge that fools despise? Wisdom and instruction. So knowledge is, in fact, not so much what I tell the kids about Science and Maths in my daily interaction with them, but rather, wisdom (the ability to discern between good and evil) and instruction (the willingness to obey God).

Join me, if you like, in reading one Proverb chapter every day for the month of August. Thirty-one days, thirty-one chapters. Unchanging, uncompromising wisdom and instruction.

The tenth leper

On 27 June, 2014, I left my previous job in Shanghai. The future was uncertain through my eyes. I had been asking God for a year off from work since 2011, and at the end of 2013 I made the decision to leave Shanghai. There was no plan for how I could feed my family without a regular salary. There were only two things on my mind - to reconcile with my mum, and to rest and recharge before continuing in China. One year, I asked God.

Today, 27 June 2015, as I look back. God has not only provided the daily bread, but also gave more than enough for me to clear the housing and car loans. Beyond money, He let me experience the children's homeschool experience, allowing me to see how my kids have grown in wisdom. Through long stretches of "doing nothing", He opened up conversation and intimacy between Wifey and me. He sent devoted and wise Christian brothers & sisters to encourage my family as we lived out a life that is rather unconventional for Singaporeans. And He reconciled me with my mother, whom I saw less than 10 times in the past 20 years

On 29 June 2015, I will re-enter the workforce, albeit on part-time basis. One year, I asked God. He has proven Himself faithful, even when I was unfaithful to Him.

Thank you, Lord, for considering me, the last, and Samaritan, leper.